2027: I’ve Handed Everything Over to God, Says INEC Chairman

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said he has entrusted the responsibility of conducting the 2027 general election to God, describing his faith as a source of strength amid the demands of his office.

Amupitan made this known on Wednesday while speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, organised by Yiaga Africa under the theme, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Election in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

The INEC chairman said the enormity of the task ahead had reinforced his reliance on God as he prepares to oversee the next general election.

“I’m being reminded of the enormity of the task on me. I’m also encouraged by the word of God, which is, ‘Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ So that has been my anchor,” he said.

“Sometimes people say, ‘You are not bothered.’ I said, I’ve handed over everything to God,” he added.

Addressing concerns about the influence of artificial intelligence on elections, Amupitan assured Nigerians that algorithms would not determine the outcome of the 2027 polls, insisting that the power to elect leaders rests with the people.

“No, algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 votes. Algorithms will not decide the vote because the choice of who leads Nigeria belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people,” he stated.

He explained that although artificial intelligence would influence political communication, voter information and election logistics, the technology must serve as a tool for strengthening democracy rather than undermining it.

“Our task, therefore, at this forum and within the Commission is to ensure that AI remains a servant of democracy, not its master,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman disclosed that the 2027 general election would involve more than 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He noted that the scale of the exercise, alongside difficult terrain, insecurity and poor network coverage in some communities, presented major logistical challenges for the commission.

Despite the challenges, Amupitan said INEC had completed 10 of the 14 major activities on its election timetable, notwithstanding the strict deadlines stipulated by the Electoral Act 2026.

He added that the commission had procured and begun receiving additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to strengthen its technological capacity ahead of the polls.

According to him, INEC had also digitised its candidate nomination process through the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal, which had processed more than 15,000 nominations across 22 political parties.

He further disclosed that the commission had introduced online voter registration and was implementing a decentralised, multi-phase Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise nationwide.

On the application of artificial intelligence in election administration, Amupitan said the technology could improve the deployment of electoral materials and personnel through predictive modelling and geospatial analysis.

He explained that AI-powered systems could analyse traffic patterns, weather forecasts, road conditions and security reports to identify suitable routes for transporting election materials to polling units. Such systems could also provide early warnings of weather-related disruptions and help INEC anticipate logistical difficulties before election day.

On electoral integrity, the chairman said biometric voter accreditation and electronic transmission of polling-unit results had helped address vulnerabilities associated with manual accreditation and arbitrary manipulation of results.

He added that artificial intelligence could support the auditing of uploaded polling-unit result sheets by identifying mathematical inconsistencies, unusual entry patterns and discrepancies in image quality.

However, he emphasised that human collation remained the statutory standard for declaring election results, while AI could provide additional support in detecting irregularities.

Amupitan said INEC would continue collaborating with civil society organisations, technology firms, regulatory bodies and security agencies to maximise the benefits of artificial intelligence while addressing potential threats to the electoral process.

He maintained that technological advancements must strengthen democratic institutions without compromising the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.